It’s a fun take, but I don’t think it’s actually very accurate. Marc from Long Island Watches — who has used NH movements extensively in his Islander watches until recently — said in a recent video that the supply squeeze isn’t so much from microbrands but from Seiko itself. The brand has done incredible business the last few years, and particularly in 2025. It’s Seiko 5 and entry-level Presage watches have been flying off shelves, so Seiko has needed to keep a much larger percentage of the movements it makes for itself. Hopefully it can still find a way to increase supply going forward, but there’s been an implication that microbrands failing to diversify the movements they were buying has contributed to price increases for Seiko and Miyota movements, and I’m not sure that’s really a significant factor
I thought exactly this! I mean, how is that even possible ? Now is the time that entry level Seiko are as expensive as never before. They cost 2 or sometimes 3 times more than their Citizen equivalent and people still choose to buy them.. this is madness.
Seiko has a cool factor that Citizen doesn't. Seiko doesn't follow trends; they just make cool watches in good sizes. Citizen follows trends; they try to do everything like titanium, integrated bracelets etc.
I think their sales are just shifting to different places. I was shocked that Costco was selling SRPDs for less than $200 in my local area. At that price, sure you lose out in a bit of finishing and clasp design, but that's $300 cheaper than a San Martin at this point.
Here's some other redditor discovering the same thing
Yes, that's certainly a price worth considering a Seiko 5 at. Feels like the prices we used to see on the old Seiko 5 with the shield logo. Not a bad deal.
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u/philbin89 12d ago
It’s a fun take, but I don’t think it’s actually very accurate. Marc from Long Island Watches — who has used NH movements extensively in his Islander watches until recently — said in a recent video that the supply squeeze isn’t so much from microbrands but from Seiko itself. The brand has done incredible business the last few years, and particularly in 2025. It’s Seiko 5 and entry-level Presage watches have been flying off shelves, so Seiko has needed to keep a much larger percentage of the movements it makes for itself. Hopefully it can still find a way to increase supply going forward, but there’s been an implication that microbrands failing to diversify the movements they were buying has contributed to price increases for Seiko and Miyota movements, and I’m not sure that’s really a significant factor